Armenia’s energy market reforms: EU support and international experience

A two-day international expert workshop dedicated to reforms in Armenia’s electricity market is being held in Yerevan under the EU4Energy programme.

The Public Services Regulatory Commission of the Republic of Armenia (PSRC) said in a press release that the event aims to support the practical implementation of ongoing electricity market reforms in Armenia through the exchange of experience with the European Union and its member states, professional dialogue, and discussions on key issues related to sector regulation.

In his opening remarks, PSRC Chairman Mesrop Mesropyan highlighted the importance of the European Union’s support and the exchange of international experience, emphasizing the significance of electricity market liberalization, the regulation of energy storage systems, and the development of the Commission’s institutional capacity in the context of reforms in Armenia’s energy sector.

“It is particularly important for us to ensure that international best practices are not only studied but also adapted to Armenia’s specific circumstances and needs, with a view to ensuring the practical and consistent implementation of reforms. At the same time, the development of energy storage systems and their effective regulation are important for integrating renewable energy and enhancing the flexibility of the electricity system,” Mesropyan said.

Armin Bohm, EU4Energy Resident Expert at the programme’s Armenia Office, also delivered welcoming remarks. He highlighted the effective cooperation established between the European Union and the PSRC, emphasizing the Commission’s key role in the reform of Armenia’s electricity market. He said that expert and technical cooperation supported by the EU contributes to the exchange of European experience, the development of professional capacity, and the advancement of energy sector reforms.

The two-day workshop brings together experts from Hungary, as well as representatives of Armenian government institutions and sectoral regulatory bodies.

During the discussions, Hungarian and international experts are presenting Hungary’s and the European Union’s experience in various aspects of electricity market regulation and management, addressing regulatory and institutional approaches currently in use, as well as opportunities for adapting and applying them in practice in Armenia.

The workshop agenda covers electricity market liberalization; market operations and balancing mechanisms; regulation of energy storage systems; institutional arrangements and capacity building in the energy sector; enforcement of regulatory requirements; cooperation between energy and competition authorities; consumer protection; and the system of guarantees of origin for renewable energy.

The event is being held under the third phase of the EU4Energy programme, within the framework of the initiative titled “Promoting the Clean Energy Transition and Connectivity in the Eastern Partnership Countries.”